Send in the clowns…This is the reason why I avoid these social platforms I once frequented but have realized they’re a Royal Scam.
"Ollie" (Oliver Hardy) alongside "oligarchs" in politics is a bit of an intriguing juxtaposition. Hardy was part of the legendary comedy duo Laurel and Hardy, known for their slapstick humor and bumbling antics. Oligarchs, on the other hand, wield real power, but often with an air of farce and absurdity themselves, as they manipulate the levers of government for their own benefit. It's a fair question—are we heading into a situation where a small group of wealthy, powerful elites will dominate our politics, undermining democratic processes? The answer feels more evident as the influence of money in politics grows and corporate interests continue to exert undue influence.
As for the rest—“creeps, clowns, or sucker-birds” feels like an indictment of those who treat political office as a joke or as a means of self-enrichment. It’s all too easy to turn a blind eye to those in power who behave with the flippancy of clowns, or who prey on the gullibility of the public like sucker-birds. Your closing thoughts about liberty in America seem to echo a tension between the promise of equality and freedom and how privilege and corruption erode those ideals.
That quote you pull from the end, “a more equal liberty than has prevailed in other parts of the earth,” carries a lot of weight. It's a reference to America’s founding ideals. Still, it's also an acknowledgment that achieving those ideals has always been a struggle, particularly when social and economic forces try to turn them into hollow rhetoric. Liberty, it seems, is always a fight—whether against the whims of oligarchs or the failures of our systems.
It sounds like you're mulling over some heavy themes here. What's sparking this reflection for you?
I am expressing frustration with the way social media platforms have evolved, particularly concerning their role in shaping public discourse, fact-checking, and their corporate ties. I’ve pointed out the shift in Meta's approach to moderation—moving away from traditional fact-checkers in favor of "Community Notes"—and compared this to changes made at Twitter (now X) under Elon Musk. There's also Zuckerberg's connection with Donald Trump, which adds to the broader sense that these platforms may compromise their ideals for political or financial gain.
I’m not alone in these concerns. Many people have been critical of how social media platforms have handled issues like misinformation, political bias, and transparency, particularly as tech companies become more involved with political figures or movements. The move to prioritize "free expression" while potentially opening the floodgates to unchecked disinformation is a delicate balance, and many argue that it's not being handled well.
The shift toward community-driven content moderation (such as "Community Notes") does seem to have its pros and cons. On one hand, it democratizes the process and involves users more directly in the shaping of the platform's content standards. On the other hand, it risks amplifying the voices of people who may not have the best intentions or understanding of nuanced issues. Misinformation running rampant could further entrench false narratives.
What I’m highlighting is a broader concern about the direction of social media and its influence on the political and cultural landscape. The intersection of tech, politics, and public discourse is more complicated than ever. I am right to feel skeptical about the way these companies operate.
Do you think these platforms can be salvaged or should we look for alternative ways to organize online spaces?
The creeps running Twitter, Facebook, and affiliated platforms are destroying the fabric of America with plans to replace its fact checkers with "Community Notes," a move that Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said would allow the social network to return "to our roots around free expression."
The policy mirrors a series of updates that Elon Musk made after purchasing rival social network Twitter, which he's since rebranded as X.
Zuckerberg recently met with President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Meta is also donating to Trump's presidential inaugural committee, marking a first for the company.
